Note: my sincerest apologies! I have been so busy with my new Orlando Bloom site (URL found in my profile--homepage) and other things, including the end of my summer college class and a research paper. Plus, I have not been in the right mood to write, and now must study for my CPR certification. Sorry! I am not sure that the Beornings have their own language, but I pretend that they do. Hope you like this, and thanx very much for the wonderful reviews for chapter one!

Chapter Two: Síriel's Kin

The Elves accompanying Legolas and Síriel were quite happy to hear that their Prince's newly wed wife was carrying his unborn child. Whatever thoughts they had before about her strange behavior were wiped off their minds. There was no doubt in anyone's mind now at all.

Celebrindal took this news as if she had only just learned of it, lavishing her well wishes and kind thoughts on her friend endlessly. It would have appeared suspicious if she had not acted this way. And now she had a legitimate reason to be at her friend's side constantly.

"Just a little play…" she would whisper to her half-elf friend.

Síriel would chuckle merrily under her breath.

"A well rehearsed little play!" she would reply to Celebrindal.

The following morning, the day after Legolas announced that Síriel was pregnant, dawned bright and clear. The Prince awoke to find that his wife was absent from his side. Fearing the worst, he rose and dressed quickly. If she had fallen somewhere or was hurt or in pain, he would need to find her fast. Celebrindal would be necessary as well. Outside of his tent he heard many voices speaking and soft laughter. The others were all awake, and completely oblivious that his wife was missing.

However, as soon as he reached to push his tent's flap towards the outside, he heard Síriel's voice saying in an excited tone:

"I will go and call him now!"

She turned suddenly, and let out a muffled gasp of surprise.

"Ai (ah), Legolas! You gave me such a fright!" she said.

He was standing outside of the tent.

"Did I? Are you alright?" he asked, looking her over anxiously.

"I am. Why do you ask?" she replied.

"Because when I awoke you were not beside me."

She laughed merrily, tilting her head back, delighting him. He had not seen her this happy since they had left Thranduil's palace.

"Why do you laugh so?" he asked her, slightly puzzled.

"Aphado nin (follow me), and your questions will be answered." she told him.

He followed behind her, clearly wondering why she was in such a fine spirit. It was not that he did not desire her to be happy, he truly hoped for that, but it was a pretty riddle that she had set for him, one that he was determined to solve. And the answer was a surprise to him.

When at last she stopped in the middle of the camp, Legolas found himself looking at a rather large group of mortal men. They were quite tall and stocky, with brown beards and darker colored skin. A few of them had red hair and looked alike. They stood together in the front of the group. Their eyes lit up when they saw Síriel and Legolas.

"You must be Prince Legolas!" one of them said.

Síriel smiled proudly. The other Elves were banded together, and they too were smiling quite happily. Legolas did not understand.

"I am. Who are you?" he said slowly.

Síriel squeezed Legolas' hand gently.

"They are my kin! They were travelling and chanced to come upon our camp last night. I saw them first, as I was awake because I did could not fall asleep, while I was strolling with Celebrindal." she said happily.

"Your kin?" Legolas repeated, looking at the one who had spoken.

"My name is Darrion. Therassa, Síriel's mother, is kinswoman to my brothers and I." he said, pointing at the other red-haired men, "Síriel is a sort of legend amongst us. You cannot imagine my delight when I first saw her. I knew she was special, for no Elf has our skin or red hair."

Legolas nodded. He saw Celebrindal smiling at Síriel with tears of joy in her eyes. The Prince knew she was happy for his wife.

"Síriel informed us that you are on your way to Ithilien. We would be honored to have you as our guests." Darrion added quickly.

Legolas smiled graciously at him.

"I thank you. But first let me speak with my people." he said.

As soon as he turned to question them, he already knew their answer. He could read it quite plainly in their fair faces and eyes.

"Well," he laughed. "I do believe we will accept your invitation!"

The mortals and Elves alike cheered. Síriel was beaming. She kissed Legolas tenderly on his lips in gratitude.

"There is no need to tell me how thankful you are that I accepted their invitation. I did it because I love you and I wish to please you, but also because I want to know more about them." he said.

After an hour passed, the Elves were ready to leave. Darrion made sure his people were set to go before he lead the two parties into the Wood. Though Legolas had traveled much throughout his home, he did not recognize the paths Darrion was choosing. They went in single file, Darrion and his brothers leading, and the Elves between them and the other Beornings. Legolas was just behind Síriel, Celebrindal after him.

"We will not travel in this manner for the entire way, only while we take this shortcut. It is about a league, but cuts ten times that amount if we did not take it. There are many such shortcuts." Darrion called out.

When the party had traveled a league, the trees on either side of them suddenly broke away, and they found themselves on a well-worn path. Síriel alone (from amongst the Elves) seemed to find it familiar.

"Long has it been since I have come this way!" she cried.

One of Darrion's brothers brought his horse alongside hers.

"So you have been to your mother's village?" he asked excitedly.

She nodded her copper-red head.

"I have been there. I lived there until she died, when my father took me back with him. Then when I was older he brought me back for a visit. That was…nine hundred years ago, before your time, Moddyn." she said.

"Nine hundred years ago!" Moddyn exclaimed.

She smiled at him.

For ten days the Elves traveled with the Beornings on a southwest course, following Darrion as he led them surely on different paths to avoid the spiders that dwelled in that region. They passed the Mountains of Eryn Lasgalen on their fifth day, and the Elves looked at them in wonder. Most had never been out of the palace, let alone this far away from the palace's safety. The Wood was different here, and the trees were not beeches, but oaks. Legolas knew this was due to the fact that they were no longer near the palace. He rode with Celebrindal beside Síriel, and often times Darrion would place Moddyn as the leader and fall back next to them. He proved to be an excellent teacher, telling them all about the culture and customs of the Beornings. Most of the things Síriel knew, but some things she did not know. And what delighted Darrion the most was when he learned that she still spoke the language of the Beornings.

"I thought that you do not know it!" he told her in awe.

"Oh, I do. Mother taught me. She said that I must learn it, that it is a part of me. And she was right. May she rest in peace!" Síriel replied.

This news spread like wildfire amongst the other Beornings, and before long, Síriel found herself speaking to them in their own tongue. She was hesitant at first. After all, she had not spoken the language for many centuries, but after some time she forget her uneasiness and was answering and speaking to them as if she had always lived with them.

The tenth day came. Síriel was unusually quiet, and Legolas sensed this was because they were nearing the home of the Beornings. The trees here were very tall oaks and elms. At times the Elves glimpsed figures between the trees, and once they even came upon an old cottage. The Beornings were in a cheery mood, singing loudly as they rode. Then a high wooden gate came into view, and Darrion commanded all to stop.

"We have reached our destination!" he cried for the Elves to hear.

At the sound of a horn, the gate was opened, and the travelers rode through. Other Beornings came to greet them, and stopped short when they saw the Elves. Síriel was trembling slightly with nervousness.

"Avo 'osto (fear/worry not)." Legolas whispered to her.

Darrion dismounted and spoke to the gathered crowd in their own language. When Síriel reddened, Legolas knew she had been mentioned, for all eyes turned immediately upon her.

"Welcome!" a great voice called to the Elves.

Legolas turned to find an older man standing beside Darrion.

"This is my father, the leader of our people." Darrion explained. "We all speak the Common Tongue, so language is no dilemma."

Legolas motioned for his people to dismount. He helped Síriel off her horse. Going before Darrion's father, he inclined his head to him.

"Greetings. I am Prince Legolas Greenleaf, son of King Thranduil." he said. "This is my wife, Síriel, daughter of Therassa, your kinswoman."

The man smiled.

"Welcome to my home." he said warmly.

Darrion and his brothers led the Elves to a great dining hall. Their horses were taken and properly stabled. All around them the Beornings were welcoming them with kind words and bright smiles. Most had never seen an Elf before, and as for Síriel, she was merely a legend to them. Imagine their happiness then, to be seeing both Elves and Síriel. The Elves, in turn, were quite pleased to be among the Beornings. They had heard many tales about them, especially of Beor, the one who housed Thorin Oakensheild and his company of Dwarves.

For three days the Elves of Eryn Lasgalen were esteemed guests of the Beornings of that settlement. Legolas seldom was with Síriel, for she was often with Darrion and his father. Celebrindal was with her, though, so the Prince was not fearful of something unnoticed happening to her. At night she returned to rest with him, spending many hours telling him all that she had learned and what happened to her.

"Now I can see the mortal side in you!" he told her lovingly.

"It has always been there, but has lain dormant because of the mockery I received. It comes out when I am at ease." she replied.

"And I love you all the more when I can see it."